The Lioness and the Wolf

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or anything in the Potter-verse.

Chapter 10: Dates?

Lorcan's POV:

I woke human, achy, and tired.

Why did this have to happen to me? I think it all the time but I never get any answers. I guess I'll just have to let my fate play out.

Arms tightened around me. I squeezed my eyes shut. I forgot Lily stayed with me last night. I stiffened. That was dangerous. Yes I was in control of myself for most of the night but I still could've lost it. I don't even remember all of it.

I slid out of Lily's arms and out of bed. I went to the little dresser to grab a set of robes when the door opened.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't think you'd be up" Madam Bones said she is the school's nurse. She frowned. "Is that a girl in your bed?"

Oh, crap this won't end well. "This isn't what it looks like I swear" I tried to explain.

"Did she stay here the whole night?"

"Yes"

"Then it is exactly what it looks like" Madam Bones said. I've never been to the infirmary before but I always thought of her as a nice woman. She wasn't looking so nice right now.

"We didn't do anything indecent if that's what you're thinking" I said blushing at the words.

"I wasn't thinking of anything lewd" Madam Bones said blushing now too, "I meant it is not safe for you to be around people on a full moon."

"I know that but I didn't attack Lily she's safe with me" I said.

Madam Bones frowned again. "Put on your clothes I'll be waiting for you and Miss Potter outside this door."

She turned and left the room. I took a deep breath. God I just felt so tired. I put on a fresh set of robes and then leaned against the bed.

I wish I could rewind time back to when things were simpler.

"Lily time to wake up." I shook her shoulders.
"A few more minutes" she murmured into the pillow.

"Breakfast should be starting soon. We don't want any of the other students to see us coming from this way" I said. Yeah I can hear the rumor mill already.

Not that were weren't already rumors about me and Lily. Half of the girls in the Ravenclaw tower are under the impression that she's dating both me and Lysander at the same time. She's just a friend, for both of us.

Even though we're identical we're nothing alike Lysander and I. I guess that's why we got put into different houses. Or maybe mom has it right and the wrackspurts have been buzzing around the sorting hat for so many years that they've addled his brain.

"Lorcan? Hey, what's going on?" Lily whispered sleepily.

"It's time to get up silly" I said standing up.

My muscles are so sore. My spine feels all wrong and my skin does too. It's all itchy an irritating. I rubbed my arms trying to will them into feeling normal.

Lily got up and put on her robes from yesterday.

"How are you feeling?"

Like crap, "I'm good" I lied.

She was looking at me with worry in her eyes. She didn't believe me. Suddenly I wanted to get back to my own room in the Ravenclaw tower.

"We should get going" I said.

"Yeah" she said and she slipped on her shoes. "Come on" she wrapped one of her arms around my waist, "you can lean on me."

"I can walk on my own" I muttered. I didn't want to sound ungrateful but I don't want pity from anyone, especially from her.

"Fine let me lean on you, I think I'm still half sleep" she said.

"We're supposed to be acting like everything is the same" I reminded her.

"Everything is the same" she said.

I wasn't buying it but I didn't say anything else as we left the room.

"Madam Bones, what are you doing here?" Lily asked. I guess I forgot to warn her.

"I should be asking you that" Madam Bones said her voice still curt. "Here this is for you."

She handed me a giant block of chocolate.

"It'll make you feel better" she added in a nicer tone.

I took a bite of the chocolate.

There was an invisible ladder by the trap door you had to tap your wand to it to see it.

"Oh, wow I didn't even know that was there" Lily said.

I groaned. "Just jumped straight down didn't you" I asked.

"Yep, good thing the ground is so soft" Lily said.

Madam Bones tsked.

At breakfast I got a letter from my parents. I read the letter over as I ate. Dad was making another small trip to Africa. Mom was staying home. Dad wasn't going alone though, an auror was going with him and a couple other naturalist. My mom had a lot to say about rumored heliopath sightings. She published a story in the Quibbler she'll send me a free copy in the morning.

I don't really talk to the other kids in my house. I don't really talk to anyone but Lysander and Lily. They used to get me. I wonder if they do still.

Lily's POV:

"Hang with me this weekend?" Lysander said coming to sit by me as I finished up my essay for Ancient Runes.

"Don't I always?" I said. I scrolled up my paper and taped it with my wand to seal it.

"No, sometimes I think you forget who your best friend is the way you barely ever have time for me" he said.

"I have a lot of best friends you just happen to be one of them" I said back.

"Yeah, but I'm your favorite" he said. I just rolled my eyes.

"Besides it's not like you aren't always busy with Quidditch practice. It seems like the only time I see you is when I come to watch you practice."

"I have no idea what Longbottom was thinking when he named Hugo captain. The guy has been going crazy with the power. Anyway that's mostly why I want to spend the whole day with you and only you."

"Only me?" like a date? No way.

"Promise we won't spend the whole day in Quidditch Quality Supplies" I said.

"I promise."

"Lily!" Sienna screeched as she entered the common room. She rushed over towards me, nudged Lysander out of the way and said "Guess who Ralph Moss just asked out?"

"Ugh, don't tell me he got back together with Jessica" I said knowing that was not where she was headed.

"No"

I gasped. "Did he ask out Lucy? I knew it. I knew people would ask her out once she got rid of that good for nothing cheating bastard Liam."

"No you cow, me. Ralph Moss just asked me out" Sienna said and she was practically jumping up and down for joy.

"I guess I'll catch up with you later" Lysander said.

"Okay" I said back. I grabbed Sienna's arm and dragged her to our dorm. It was empty, which was a plus. "So tell me everything."

"Okay so I had just gotten out of Divination," a class I don't bother taking because I know it is so fake, "when I literally walked right into Ralph Moss." I find it funny that everyone pronounces his full name as if it is one word. "We both apologized and then he introduced himself. You know that sexy smile he has, he was all 'I'm Moss, Ralph Moss' I practically melted right there. And then I was like 'I know, I'm Sienna.' And then he said 'Do you have any plans for this weekend?' of course I told him I had no plans and then he said 'Good because you're going on a date with me this Saturday. I'll pick you up at nine outside of the Gryffindor common room.' And I was all like 'I didn't tell you I was a Gryffindor'. He just smiled and said 'I know.'"

"Sienna"

"What?"

I lifted the edge of her scarf to her eyes so she could see the red and gold.

"Oh." And then we both started laughing.

"So I take it you're over my brother?"

"No, Ralph Moss asked me out on a date he did not ask me to be his girlfriend. I am still single" Sienna said. "Is Al still dating that girl?"

"Last I heard."

"Oh, what were you talking about with Lysander, it looked like the two of you were in a serious conversation before I came in."

"Nothing serious he just asked if I would hang out with him at Hogsmeade this Saturday."

"You two always hang out"

"I know, he wants to hang out just the two of us"

"Like a date?"

"No, not like the date."

"If it is just going to be the two of you alone then it is a date."

"The word 'date' was not said there for it was not a day. He just asked if I'd spend the whole day with him. If it were a date he would've said something along the lines of 'hey you want to go on a date with me?'"

"It sounds to me like you're trying to convince yourself more than you are me."

"Whatever, it is not a date."